Liquid-processing apparatus



Nov. 4, 1930. E. B. NICHOLS 1,780,794

LIQUID PROCESS ING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WWW is ATTO EY H Nov. 4, 1930. E. B. NICHOLS LIQUID PROCESSING APPARATUS 2 SheetsSheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 2'7, 1928 ENT/OVR Z3 ZZISAITTOR Patented Nov. 4, 1930 PArr rric fs EDGAR B. NICHOLS, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGN'OR TO THE, IPFAUDLER .00., I ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK i rirourn-rnocnssrne APPARATUS Original application filed January 27, 1928, Serial at. 250,048. Divided ai this application filed December 22, 1928.

The present invention relates to a liquid processing apparatus of the heat exchange type and has for its object to provide improved means of this class designed particularly for use in the treating of liquids, such for example, as are employed in the processing of foods and other substances by heating or cooling treatment.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved heat exchange system embodying a container for the fluid to bev treated or processed having therein conducting means for a heating or cooling medium designed in such manner as to permit the heating or cooling surface to be increased or decreased as desired in accordance with the quantity or nature of the liquid to be processed. i a

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of heating or cooling coils or sections designed for conveniently regulating the extent of the effective surface ofthe coils by individual control thereover and also control by pres sure responsive devices whereby to more effectively and economically treat the. liquids.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of heating or coolingcoils designed in amanner to permit additional coils to be readily added or replacements made from time totime with but little inconvenience.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings q Fig. 1 is apart sectional elevation of an apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on line SE-B of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional taken on line l4 of Fig. 3; i

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan taken on line 55 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional plan taken on line 66 of Fig. 3.

plan

serial no. 328,032.

Similar reference numerals throughout the j several views indicate the same parts. The present application is a division of m copending application, Serial Number 250,- 048, filed January 27 1928, for improvements in liquid processing apparatus.

In the manufacturing or processing of food products, as for example, the pasteurizing of milk or the treating of other liquids,

it is essential to have a'series of conducting units for the heat'e xch'ange medium' to be used designed so as to permit of the employment'of varying quantities of the medium as may be required for diflerentquantities of I the liquids to be processedor treated from time to time. In otherwords, the area of the heating or cooling surface should be proportional to the quantity of liquidto be treated and in the present invention thecoils have been so designed that they ently controlled for this purpose.

Furthermore, the coils at the points where they discharge into the outlet pressure head are provided with; automatic pressure operated valves which open and closeaccording ay be independto the variations in pressure on the opposite sides thereof, but which are arranged to prevent backfiow of the steam or other medium from the head to the coils discharging thereto.

The coils are so constructed that they may be readily assembled within the tank by building up or superimposing one section upon another and the arrangement shown is such that the sections, in case of repairs, may be quickly removed with but little'interruptionin the use of the apparatus and with comparatively small expense.

In the present arrangement the several coil sections each has a separate inlet and a separate outlet, check valves being provided for each outlet as will be hereinafter explainedn each provided with suitable valvesnot shown,

for individually controlling the supply of steam or liquid to the several sections so that any one of'the sectionsmay be closed at will or the supply of fluid thereto regulated in accordance with varyingrequirements under different operatingconditions. Four-of the sections 48 to 51 inclusive, are superimposed uponthe head47 and the fifthor lowermost section '52 has its inlet end projecting laterally therefromas shown in Fig. '1 and its outlet end leading into an oppositely posltioned head 53which has an extension 53 from which leads downwardly apipe 54 connecting with a head 55v secured on the bottom of the tank 46. The discharge pipe 56 leads from the head 55 preferablyto a suitable container not shown for receiving the exhaust-steam or other heating orcooling medium employed Y y es in the processing operations; 7 J v The inlet heads 48* to 51* inclusive of the sections {19 to 51 are provided at their lower sides with transversely extending plates or disks 57 to 60, which form removable bot toms for said heads adapted to-close the openings therein whereby to separate one head from another. T he. opposite heads 48- to 51*. preferably have their-lower walls cast integral with the heads as shown atthe right of Fig. 3. The four passages 61 to '64 terminate in vertically disposed 'outlet'openings :each of which,except the passage 64, is adapted to receive the lower end of a tube in the manner indicated in Fig. .3. Twoof these tubes are shown at .65 and 66,- the former ex tending upwardly through the inlet heads of the sections and discharging into the head 4:8,while the latter extends upwardly and discharges into head 49. The tube discharging into head 50 is shownonly at 67 in Fig.

4, but itsconstruction is the same. as that of the other tubes. The tubes may: either be supported through engagement of their lower ends with the head 47: or they. mayhave flanges at their upper ends as indicated in Fig. ,3 which over-lie the uppermost plates throughwhich the tubes extend and by which they may be supported. No tube is provided for opening .641 of head 47 ,since said opening discharges directly intohead 51 The outlet heads of the coil sections 48 to 5O are provided respectively with-downwardly extending tubes 68,69 and 70, the latterbeing shownonly in Fig. 6-. The lower ends of said tubes are seated upon and supportedby'the lower wall 71 0f head 51 over openings therein leading totheinteriOr of head 53. The wall 71 is provided with an additional opening 72, Fig. 6, so that the steam orother fluid passing through section 51 may discharge directly into head 53. The

opening 72 and those beneath tubes '68, 69

and 7 O are provided with check valves 7 3 slidable on studs 7-1 depending from wall 71 and .carryingcoil springs? 5 for holding the valves seated as shown in Fi 3'whereby to prevent discharge of the fluid upwardly from one coil to another should the pressure become greater onthe lower faces of the valves than onthe 'upper' faces thereof. "It will be seen, therefore, that should the pressure in he ad53, produced by the fluid entering; it

frornsection 52, exceed the pressure in any one of the sections48 to 51,;the--valves' for said section's'will be closeduntil the pressure in the latter builds up sufliciently to open the same. It will be understood that the valves operate independently of each other and therefore each section ofthe coil will be opened or closed by its valveaccording to the difference in pressure on the opposite sides of the valve. However, whilethe fluid is discharging from head 53 the pressure therein will become slightly lowered so that .l

open the. same to aflordproper circulation of the fluid through the individual sectionsof the coils. As stated: above, however, the valves will prevent the upward discharge of the greater pressure above the valves will the steam or other. fluid from the lowermost j I head 53 tothe heads tliereabove should the pressure on thelower sides of the valves be:

' come greater than on the upper faces thereof;

Thetubular sections a8 to 51 beinginclined downwardly from their inlet to their outlet ends will insure proper drainage of the fluidso'that its accumulation withinthe sections is thus prevented.

I claim as my nventlonz 1. Ina fluid circulating system, a plurality of tubular sections'having connected. inlet and outlet portions, individual fluid inlet and outlet members each extending though the walls of one of said sections and discharging into another section whereby the circulating passages of the sectionsare kept separate and independent of each other, and means for supplying fluid to said inlet members.

2. In a fluid pressure circulating system," a plurality of pipe sections having connected inletv and outlet portions, fluid inlet and outint let membersextending within said portions v arranged in a manner wherebythecirculats ing passages of the sections are separate and independent of each other,a head connected with'one of said outlet portions arranged to receive the fluid from said outlet members,

and pressure responsive valves for checking the back flow of the fluid from therhead through said outlet members.

3. In a fluid pressure circulatingsystem, a plurality of'superiniposed pipe sections having outlet portions resting one upon another, separate supply pipes for said sections, areceiving head for the fluid circulated through said sections, tubes leading from. the outlet 5. In a fluid pressure circulating system, a

plurality of superimposed pipe sections having inlet and outlet heads, individual supply tubes for the inlet heads each extending to one of the latter through the inlet head of another section, a receiving head for the fluid, separate discharge passages leadingv from the sections to said receiving head, means for conveying fluid to the tubes, and means connecting said sections one with another.

6. In afiuid circulating system, a plurality of-superimposed coils, means tor'conveying the fluid to the coils, one or more discharge tubeseach arranged to extend from one coil through a portion of another, and valves for checking the back flow of the fluid through the discharge tubes.

7. In a fluid circulatingsystem, a plurality of pipe sections disposed one upon another and having alined outletportions, meansffor conveying fluid to said pipe sections, and individual discharge tubes for each of a plurality of the sections extending transversely of said sections and each projecting through the walls of the outlet portions of oneor morev of the remaining sections, said walls having fluid tight joints surrounding the tubes at the points through which they project.

S. In a fluid circulating systenna plurality of superimposed pipe sections, means for conveying fluid to said sections, a receiving head for the fluid circulated through said sections, and a vertically disposed discharge tube leading downwardly fromone of the sections through the wall of another to said receiving head, said last mentioned section having a separate discharge passage.

9. In a fluid circulating system, a plurality of connected pipe sections, means for conveying fluid to said sections, a receiving head for thefluid circulated through said sections, a dischargetube leading; from one of the sections through a portion of-another to said receiving head, and a. pressure responsive spring pressed valve for the tube arranged between the latter and the head adapted to close automatically when the pressure inthe head exceeds the pressure in the pipe section with which the tube is connected. v

10. In a fluid circulatingfsystem, a plurality of connected pipe sections provided with alined inlet and outlet. heads resting one upon another, outlet tubes leading 'from 'a plurality of said heads each through one of the remaining outlet heads, inlet tubes for said sections, a receiving head for the fluid discharged bysaid outlet tubes, valves for checking the back flow ofthe fluid from the receiving head through said outlet tubes, and a supply head having separate passages for conveying the fluidto the inlet tubes.

11. In a fluid circulating system, a plurality of pipe sectionsextendingalternately in opposite directionsand havingtheir ends provided with opposite sets of alined inlet and outlet heads having end walls seated one upon'another, the circulating'passagesof said pipe sections being separate from and independent of each other, a separate supply conduit leading to each inlet head through one of its end walls, a separate discharge conduit leading from each outlet head through one of its end walls, and means serving to secure said sections one upon another. V a

12. In a fluid circulating pressure system, a

plurality of pipe sections extending alternately in opposite directions and having their ends provided with opposite sets of alined inlet and outlet heads having end walls seated one upon another, the circulating passages of said pipe sections being separate from and r independent of each other, a separate supply conduit leading to each inlet head through I one of its end wa-lls', a separate -discharge conduit leading from each outlet head through one of its end walls, a receiving headconnected with each discharge conduit, and valves'for-said discharge conduits arranged to be automatically closed when the pressure in said receiving head is greaterthan in the pipe sections with which said dischargeconduits are connected, and means serving to secure said sections one upon another.

i 13. In a fluid circulating system, a plurality of pipe sections extending'alt'ernately in opposite directions and having their ends provided with opposite sets of alined inlet and outletfheads seated one upon anotheigthe circulating passages of said pipe sections being separate from and independent of each other, a. separate supply conduit leading to each inlet head, means for separately conveying the fluid from each outlet head,'-and means serving to secure said heads one upon another. i

14. In a fluid circulating system,ap1urality of pipe sections extending alternately in opposite directions and having their'ends provided with opposite sets of alined inlet and outlet heads seated one upon another,a supply head seated upon one of said inlet heads, a receiving headseated upon one of said outlet heads, separate supply passages leading from the supply head to each ofsaid inlet heads, separateoutlet passages leading from each outlet head to said receiving head,

and means serving to secure said sectionsone upon another.

15. In a fluid circulating pressure system, a pluralityof pipesections extending alternately in opposite directions and having their ends provided with opposite sets of alined ,inlet and outlet heads seated one upon anvalves for each having transverse other, separate inlet conduits leading to the other, a supply head seated upon one of said inlet heads, a receivinghead seated upon one of said outlet heads, separate supply passages leading from the supply headto each of'said A inlet heads, separate outletpassages leading 1 from each'outlet head to said receiving head,

of said-outletv passages ar-' ranged to be automatically closed. when the pressurein the receiving head is greater than in saidsections, and means serving to secure sald sectlons one upon another.

ing transverse walls seated one upon another,

separate inlet conduits leading to the heads ofone set through said transverse walls, separate outlet conduits leading from the heads of the opposite set, means for conveying fluid to each of said inletconduits, and means serv- I a; ing to secure said pipe sections one upon another 7 17. In a fluidcirculatingsystem, a pluralit of pipe sections extending alternately'in opposite directions and havingtheir ends pro- ,vided with opposite sets of alined headshavingtransverse walls seatedone upon another, separate inlet conduits leading to the heads of one set through said walls, separate ,outlet conduits leading' it'rom the heads of the opposite set',,means for conveying fluid to each of said inlet conduits, a receiving head connected with the outlet conduits, a discharge pipe leading from said receiving head, and

7 means serving to secure said pipe sections one upon another.

' 18.In a fluid circulating system, a plurality of pipe sections extending alternately in opposite directions and having their ends provided with opposite sets of alined heads walls seated one upon anheadsof one set through said walls, separate outletconduits leading from the heads of the opposite set, means for conveying fluid, to 7 each of said inlet conduits, a receiving. head connected with the outlet conduits, valves for said outlet conduits arranged to automati cally close thelatter when the pressure in 5 the receiving head is. greater than in the sectionsfrom which the outlet conduits lead, a

discharge pipe leading from said receiving head, and means serving to secure said pipe sections one upon another. 7 I V 19,- Ina fluid circulating pressure system,

a plurality of pipe sections extending alternately in oppositedirections and having their fluid circulating system, a plurality ofpipe sections extending alternately in opposite directions and having their ends projvided with opposite sets of'alined heads havends. provided with; opposite sets of alined heads having transverse" walls seated one upon another,,separate-inlet conduits leading to the headsof one set'through said walls,

separate outlet conduits leading from: the P heads of'the opposite set, a supply head hav- 1 ing passages leading to the several inlet conduits, a receiving head into which the outlet conduits are arranged to discharge,'valvesf0r said outlet conduits arranged to be" automatically closed when the ing head is greater thanin the pipe sections pressure in the receiv- "from which the outletconduits'lead, said supply gaging the heads of one of the plpe sections, and means servlng tions and said supply and receiving heads 20, In a fluid circulating system, a plu rality of pipe section'sfextending' alternately- I in opposite directions and having their end portions arranged to form opposite sets of alined inlet. and outlet heads, the heads of each set being disposed one upon, another,

separate supply and discharge conduits lead-*.

ing respectively to and fromsaid inlet and and receiving heads having Seats 1 :1

.89. to connect said plpe secoutlet, heads, a supply head engaging one of the inlet headsarranged to deliver fluidto' each supply conduit, a receiving head .con-

nectedwith each of saidoutlet conduits and j the outlet heads,'and a control valve for each i being disposedin engagement with oneof said discharge conduits arranged to'automatically close the latter whenqthe pressure therein is below that in. the receiving head. '21. In a fluid circulating system, a, plu

rality of, pipe sections, one. ofrwhich comprises a base section. said sections extending alternately in opposite directions and having their end portions arrangedto form opposite sets of'alined inlet and outlet heads, a fluid section arranged tojdischarge through one of .115

said passages to said receiving head, a supply to each 'pipe ,section,gall leading supply head connected with'the inlethead Y conduit for each inlethead, connected with j municating each with said supply head, the

latter having a passageleading directly to the inlet head of said base section, the outlet head of the base section having a discharge said base section,.said supply'conduits compassage leading directly to the receiv ng head, and meansservin'g to securesaid pipe sections and said supply and receiving heads one upon another.

for individually conveying fluid to the dif- 22. In a. fluid circulating system, a plus rality of tubular sections arranged oneadjacent another and each having an inlet por .tion. and a plurality offluid'supply tubes rality of tubular sections arranged one adja-, cent another, individual outlet tubes for a I plurality of the sections each connected with and extending from one section through the walls of another section and serving to convey fluid from the section with which it is connected through said walls, and valve means for controlling the passage of the fluid through said tubes.

EDGAR B. NICHOLS. 

